On the WashingtonWatch.com Blog

More than ten days after the deadline, the House and Senate haven’t passed a budget for fiscal year 2010, which begins October 1st. Read about it, and the reasons to be concerned right now, in a post called, “Behind on the Budget.”

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Featured Items

This week, the House is scheduled to debate H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.

The bill would would provide federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.

No cost estimate for the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 is yet available.

The House will also debate H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009. The bill would further regulate practices relating to the extension of credit under open ended consumer credit plans (credit cards).

No cost estimate is yet available for the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009 either.

The Senate will continue to debate S. 386, the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, which it debated last week.

The bill would broaden the coverage of current laws against financial crimes, including fraud affecting mortgages, securities, and federal assistance programs.

Passage of S. 386, the FERA would cost a little over $4.50 per U.S. family, for funds going to the FBI, Justice Department, Postal Inspection Service, Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Secret Service.

H.R. 1913
The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009

H.R. 627
The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009

S. 386
The FERA
Costs $4.60 per family

What People Think

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 23% For, 77% Against Vote on this Bill

The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009 63% For, 37% Against Vote on this Bill

The FERA 65% For, 35% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family.

New Items

S. 414
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009
Costs $9.11 per family

H.R. 915
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009
Costs $403.43 per family

H.R. 35
The Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 1178
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions, and for other purposes
Costs $0.01 per family

H.R. 1746
The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Act of 2009
Costs $5.97 per family

H.R. 1139
The COPS Improvements Act of 2009
Costs $45.87 per family

H.R. 1665
The Coast Guard Acquisition Reform Act of 2009
Costs $0.03 per family

H.R. 1747
The Great Lakes Icebreaker Replacement Act
Costs $1.19 per family

Updated Items

none

Passed Items

P.L. 111-13
The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act
Costs $51.01 per family

P.L. 111-15
The Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family